. >>> when president obama visited south africa this past summer, he brought his family to robben island to see the cell where nelson mandela had been impressened by the apartheid regime for so many years. because mr. mandela had been so ill this year president obama did not personally visit with him on that trip. the only time the two men apparently ever met in person was in 2005 in washington when mr. obama was just starting his career in the united states senate. the new york times reports that the one visit started when mr. mandela's advisers told him that while he was there he ought to take a little bit of time to try to meet this rising star young senator who had given such a great speech at the democratic national convention the year before. and so senator obama got the call unexpectedly. he was on his way to a meeting on a totally different subject at the time, but he diverted course and drove to mr. mandela's hotel room in washington, and that is where this picture was taken, which is the only picture of the two men ever taken. it was taken by senator obama's personal assistant